The funds boutique established last summer by one of Financial News' 100 most influential people in European financial services has attracted over $1bn (€727bn) of assets within six months of its launch.

Hassan Elmasry and his team managed over $9bn in Morgan Stanley's flagship global franchise strategy, which focuses on companies with strong brands, before leaving a year ago to launch Independent Franchise Partners in June. Elmasry said that by the end of 2009, the boutique was managing $1.1bn - such growth is rare among start-up businesses, many of which take years to attract substantial assets under management.